Remember that it was just a month ago or so that Strikeforce stunned the world of MMA by landing the services of Fedor Emelianenko, whose name I almost spelled correctly on my first try. Fedor is generally considered the last, best contender to Brock Lesnar, who’s currently chewing up UFC and spitting it out. That Emelianenko opted for Strikeforce and the EA MMA game instead was, to say the least, a shock.

(He’d rather have been beating these people’s faces in. Not because he likes fighting, but as punishment for the outfits involved.)

So with that head of steam and UFC still reeling from Rampage Jackson eschewing a fight for a role in the A*Team movie, Strikeforce is set for the ol’ kill shot here, right? Like, here’s where they sign another big name and really establish themselves as equals, right? So… how about a retired football player in his late 40s, a full 12 years after his last game in the NFL? Wait, wait, there’s more. Let’s give him a history of mental illness. Perfect! Yes, Strikeforce have signed the Herschel Walker… and they’re so serious about this.

Read more…

PESKY SUBMISSION GUILLOTINE GETS GLAZER EVERY TIME: MMA is sweeping the nation, so as a public service, we thought we’d update you on the status of Fox Sports football reporter Jay Glazer’s official record:

That makes exactly one more victory than Johnnie Morton.

Here’s hoping Jay, unlike Johnnie, has laid off the Juice. But based on the hat-size-to-torso ratio, we ain’t too sure.

SI COLUMNIST OUTS BEARD BOYTOY; BREAKS JENN AGAIN? Arash Markazi’s SI-FanNation blog is fertile ground today. He’s got more on Amanda Beard - including details about her boytoy-of-the-moment, who is seven years her senior and met her on a photo shoot (imagine that!).

Despite Beard’s claim that he is a working photographer, we have our doubts, considering Beard’s reaction when asked by Markazi if she wanted him to do her Playboy shoot (she laughed). And the fact that the only public photos on his official portfolio site are of Beard.

From that description you might be a little confused - no, her boyfriend isn’t Johnny Buss (our favorite fake photographer out to mud-hook barely legal babes).

Markazi also reports Johnnie “Juiceman” Morton scored $100K at that L.A. MMA event two weeks ago, while Bernard Ackah, the last-minute replacement who spiked the former NFL receiver in 38 seconds, made just enough to cover his minibar bill ($5,000).Any finally Markazi himself steams up a photo booth with Jenn Sterger in this shot:

The Trojan-turned SI columnist was the man who first broke Sterger big, profiling her on SI.com (which directly led to her a landing nudie mag shoot and regular SI column).Looks to us like he may just have broken Jenn again.

JOHNNIE JUST MADE MATT MILLEN’S SUNDAY A HAPPY ONE: Johnnie Morton was beaten in his MMA debut last night in front of a smattering of bored curious onlookers at the Los Angeles Colisum:

Make that flattened. In 38 seconds.

UPDATE: OUR BOOK OF SCRAP reports via Sherdog.com “Morton was indefinitely suspended by the California State Athletic Commission after the 35-year-old from Torrance, Calif. refused to take his post-fight anti-doping test.”

MMA AT L.A. COLISEUM BORDERING ON BRINK OF DISASTER: SbB reported weeks ago that Johnnie Morton would make his MMA debut this Saturday as part of an enormous card at the L.A. Coliseum.

The LOS ANGELES TIMES reports late Thursday that the event is bordering on becoming a complete disaster: “A week ago, the Japanese promoters promising the largest North American crowd to ever watch a mixed martial arts fight card had not received their license to stage Saturday’s Showtime and PPV televised show at the Coliseum.

“The promoters also have endured two fighters’ failed medical results, and they’ve told state officials of plans to hand out more than 70,000 free tickets.”

Advice for those planning on attending the show: Don’t forget your tuberculosis mask and Raider fan-proof vest.

LION FANS NOT ONLY ONES LOOKING FOR MILLEN PAYBACK: The NEW YORK TIMES reports Tuesday that former longtime NFL wide receiver Johnnie Morton is attempting to enter the world of Ultimate Fighting.

Morton, who was forcibly retired (see cut) two years ago, has been training in Orange County for a couple months in preparation for bout on a UFC card in Los Angeles on June 2 (his opponent has still yet to be announced - volunteers?).

The 37-year-old former Trojan, not satisfied to retire from the pro football with his brain and body intact, is also supposedly still harboring hope of restarting his NFL career (move on already!)

The NYT gives us a little insight into what might be motivating him: “Morton said there was only one person in the N.F.L. he would really like to see in the ring — Matt Millen, the Lions’ president.

“Millen directed a homosexual epithet at Morton after a game between Detroit and Kansas City in 2003, when Morton was playing for the Chiefs.”

Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but this piece has a publicist’s fingerprints all over it. I don’t think Morton has any intention going back to an NFL training camp. Instead, he’s trying to use this notice as a springboard for a media career.

As an aside, Fox Sports football reporter (and the closest thing to a human bobblehead that mankind has yet produced) Jay Glazer, is cited in the story as an Ultimate Fighter himself. I’m guessing that his number-one weapon at the local Fight Club is a headbutt that would make Zidane blush.